BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE

The aim of the course is to provide students with knowledge and foster their understanding of topics related to macromolecules and the biological mechanisms that characterize them. Macromolecules, nucleic acids, and proteins will be studied from a structural and functional perspective. The biological mechanisms of DNA replication, RNA transcription, protein translation, and the associated regulatory mechanisms will be studied with the aim of understanding the flow of genetic information and the importance of its maintenance and control in the cell. Students' ability to apply their knowledge and understanding will be demonstrated through discussion skills and participation in lectures, exercises, and in-depth discussions on the topics covered. In this context, through discussion with peers and the instructor, students will be encouraged to develop independent judgment and communication skills. Learning ability will be assessed through discussions with the instructor during lectures, exercises, and the final exam.

Furthermore, in accordance with the Dublin Descriptors, this course contributes to the development of the following skills:

D1 - Knowledge and understanding: Students will be able to understand biological processes and have expertise in the main molecular biology techniques.

D2 - Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course, students will be able to solve problems related to the molecular phenomena underlying cellular and molecular biology and develop scientific and/or technical applications projects.

D3 - Making judgments: At the end of the course, students will be able to choose the most appropriate investigation techniques for the type of experimental problem (e.g., DNA sequencing) to be addressed and evaluate their limitations. Students will also be able to formulate reflections on scientific issues regarding the impact of basic research on life sciences.

D4 - Communication skills: At the end of the course, students will be able to argue and support scientific issues (e.g., regulation of gene expression) in specialized and popular contexts. Students will also acquire communication skills useful for participating in or coordinating multidisciplinary projects and groups in chemical and biological research.

D5 - Learning skills: By the end of the course, students will be able to address new studies, emerging scientific topics, and professional issues in various work contexts. Furthermore, they will be able to manage complex issues, including interdisciplinary ones.

Frontal lectures.

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus. 

Attendance of at least 70% of the lectures is mandatory, as required by the degree course in which the course is included.

Information for students with disabilities and/or SLD
To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on the didactic objectives and specific needs.

BIOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION. Cell structure and function. Difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. CELL ORGANIZATION. Structure and function of plasma membrane: membrane transport and cells communication. Cell compartmentalization: organization in specialized organells function as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes, lysosomes. Cell structure and mobility: cytoskeleton and organization in microfilamentes, microtubules, intermediate filaments. CELL CYCLE. Mitosis and meiosis. Control system of cell cyle. Mechanisms of cell death. MACROMOLECULES STRUCTURE. Physico-chemical properties of nucleic acid. Structure, topology and conformation of DNA helix. Structure, function and RNA classification. Protein structure and post-translation. Macromolecules interactions. Carbohydrates and lipid biological role. GENOME AND GENE ORGANIZATION. DNA organization inside a cell. Eukaryotic chromatin structure. Biological significance of coding and non coding sequences of the genome. Features of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes. DNA REPLICATION. General features. Specialization of DNA polymerases. Replication fork and DNA synthesis. Replication initiation, termination and regulation: comparison between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. DNA MUTATION AND DNA REPAIR. DNA damage, replication errors and repair mechanisms. DNA TRANSCRIPTION. Specialization of RNA polymerase. Transcription factors and promoters. Transcription initiation and termination: comparison between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. RNA processing: caping, polyA generation, splicing, editing. Spliceosome. SYNTHESIS OF PROTEINS. General features. The genetic code. Aminoacids and tRNA binding. Translation machinery: structure and function of tRNA and ribosome. Protein synthesis initiation, elongation and termination: comparison between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. GENE EXPRESSION REGULATION. Gene transcription initiation control by positive and negative regulators. Gene regulation mediated by RNAs. Prokaryotic gene regulation: operons, regulation of lysis/lysogeny in lambda phage. Eukaryotic gene regulation: enhancer, insulator, silencer, hystone modification, nucleosomes remodelling. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES. Electrophoresis. Cloning. PCR and real-time PCR, microarray, sequencing.

1) Watson et al., Biologia molecolare del gene, 7 ed, Zanichelli

2) Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cells, Garland Science.

3) Slides will be uploaded to Studium.

What is protein synthesis?

How is DNA replicated?